Wolves' on-loan defender Richard Stearman has criticised the naive performance from the club against fellow struggles Cardiff City, with Wolves suffering a defeat that edges Paul Lambert's side closer to the relegation zone.

Having won just one of their last 12 matches, Wolves face an uphill battle in the second-half of the season as they look to secure safety within the second-tier of English football and avoid a drop down to League One.

The defeat against Cardiff showed Wolves still have a lot to do though and Stearman accepted the midweek performance wasn't good enough, telling The Express & Star:

"If we play with that nativity and we have a lack of men out there we're going to concede goals and not pick up the points that maybe some of our play deserves. That's why we find ourselves near the bottom of the league."

"It really hurt, very much so. We were gutted we didn't at least got a draw – we've really got to see those games out if we want to do anything in this division. We've got to learn quickly how to see games out. You saw how Cardiff did it. It's very frustrating to play against and it's something we need to learn."

"We knew their game plan would be to put the ball in the box – it's not pretty but that's obviously the way they're going. I felt we were a little bit naive, we gave away too many free kicks and throw-ins. Ultimately it's cost us."

Situated just two points above the relegation zone, Wolves' defeat to Cardiff allowed the Welsh side to leapfrog them in the table and things will not get any easier for Lambert's side in the coming weeks, as they clash with Nottingham Forest, Bristol City, QPR and Sheffield Wednesday over the festive period.

Wolves fans.... What do you make of Stearman's comments? Do you agree? Let us know below!